Combined screen and table



April 17, 1951 v N, mm 2,549,379

COMBINED SCREEN AND TABLE Filed 001:. 22, 1947 '3 E INVENTOR.

4 77Q/ MA/ee/ Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCEj COMBINED SCREEN AND TABLE Neal W. Liebel, Erie, Pa.

Application October 22, 1947, Serial No. 782,587

This invention relates generally to useful and ornamental screens or covers for concealing domestic articles or devices of unsightly appearance and it relates more particularly to a useful and ornamental combined table and screen for concealing a sewing machine.

At the present time there are thousands of old type sewing machines in use, particularly of the drop-head type. These sewing machines are unsightly in appearance and in the small homes of today, no suitable storage space is provided for them. Furthermore, these machines are heavy and cannot be moved by the average housewife.

It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to provide a useful and ornamental unit which may be used for concealing a sewing machine or the like, which is simple in construction, economical in cost, economical in manufacture and easy to install.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel concealing cover or screen for a sewing machine or the like which provides a table surface for any desired use.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel concealing screen or the like which may be assembled and knocked down in a minimum of time with a minimum of effort.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel concealing screen for a sewing machine or the like which is extremely light in weight so that it can be placed over a sewing machine by a comparatively small woman.

Another object of my invention is to provide a concealing unit for a sewing machine which has ornamental features as well as a flat table top which may be utilized as a serving table, vanity table, or for any other purpose desired.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel combined screen and table for concealing a sewing machine which may be easily and cheaply packaged.

Other objects of my invention will become evident from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my novel combined screen and table;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view taken from the rear of my novel combined screen and table; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing engagement of the ide panels and table top mem her to the frame of my novel device. l

Referring now to the drawings, I show in Figs.

' 1, 2 and 3, side panels I and 2 each having a curved cut-out portion 3 and 4 principally for 1 Claim. (Cl. 311-2) ornamental purposes. A front panel 5 is cutaway at 6 principally for ornamental purposes. Molding 9 is disposed crosswise of the front panel 5 and an upwardly extending molding ID gives-the panel 5 the appearance of having drawers. The molding 9 and I0 also serves as stiffening members for the front panel 5. Short strips-of molding II are provided to simulate door handles. A generally U-shaped frame I2 has a grooved portion I3 for nestin and securing the upper ends I4 of the side panels I and 2 and the front panel 5. The upper side of the frame I2 has an L-shaped groove I5 cut-out therefrom to receive the marginal portion of a top I6 which may be of any suitable material such as plywood. The top I6 may be secured to the frame I 2 byscrews, nails, or it may be glued thereto as desired. Vertically extending brace members I! arepreferably provided to strengthen the unit. The outer side. I8 of the frame I2 is curved to present an ornamental appearance. Cross-piece I9 is secured to the underside of the top I6 to prevent sagging. Vertically extending brace members 20 are also disposed on the side panels I and 2.

In the construction of my novel device, I select comparatively cheap, light wood members, such as plywood. Moldings 9 and II] are then secured to the front panel 5 and brace members I! are secured adjacent the side edges of the back of the front panel 5 by screws, nails, or glue. The moldings I I are then secured to the front panel to simulate handles by any suitable means. The cut-out portions 3, 4- and 6 may have different curved lines or straight lines as desired. The side panels I and 2 and front panel 5 are then secured together by screws, nails, or glue, the brace members I! providing corner members to which the side panels I and 2 and the front panel 5 are secured. The upper ends of the side panels I and 2 and front panel 5 are then nested in the groove I3 in the frame I2. The upwardly extending brace members 20 are secured to the sides I, and 2 by screws, nails, or glue before connection of the side panels I and 2 to the front panel 5. The top I6 is disposed in and secured in the rooved portion I5 of the frame I2, preferably before assembly to the side panels I and 2 and front panel 5. It will be seen that my novel device may be packaged in a comparatively flat knocked-down condition and it may be easily assembled at the place of distribution or in the home. Three fiat units(1) top I6 with brace member I9 attached in frame I2; (2) side panels I and 2 with brace members 20 attached, and (3) front panel 5 with moldings 9, I0, and II and brace members 11 attached-may be packaged in a flat box without marring any finish on any of the pieces. Seating members 2| or casters are preferably disposed on the bottom of the brace members I! and 20 to permit my novel screen and table to be slid or pulled on a floor or rug.

My novel combined screen and table is Very light in weight, simple in construction, easy to assemble and disassemble, economical in cost and readily adaptable for use as a serving table, vanity table, or for any other purpose where a screen or cover and a table top is needed, pleasing in appearance and one which may be finished to individual taste.

Various changes may be made in the specific embodiment of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or from the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A combined screen and table top member comprising a screen of generally U-shape having a front panel and side panels, a generally U -shaped frame having a groove extending longitudinally in the bottom side thereof and nesting the upper ends of said panels and also having an L-shaped groove on the upper inner side thereof, vertically extending brace members secured to said panels,

and a flat table top member having three marginal edges thereof disposed in the L-shaped groove of said frame.

NEAL W. LIEBEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 107,398 Mooney Sept. 13, 1870 138,507 Lazarus May 6, 1873 229,533 Hoffmeier July 6, 1880 259,929 Shoemaker June 20, 1882 300,519 Shoemaker June 17, 1884 400,871 Porter Apr. 2, 1889 575,578 Thayer Jan. 19, 1897 806,550 Marstall Dec. 5, 1905 906,131 Hanley Dec. 8, 1908 1,222,503 Williams Apr. 10, 1917 1,490,011 Kaehler Apr. 8, 1924 1,630,851 Koehn -1 May 31, 1927 1,676,217 Gibson July 3, 1928 1,684,966 OConor Sept. 18, 1928 2,216,171 Goodman Oct. 1, 1940 2,332,190 Baker Oct. 19, 1943 

